Three Colors: Red 1994

Valentine Dussaut is a university student at the University of Geneva, balancing her academic life with a part-time modeling career. She frequently communicates with her possessive boyfriend, who is currently abroad, and is excited about their upcoming meeting in London. One day, during a modeling session for a chewing-gum advertisement, a poignant photo of her showcasing an expression of sadness is selected.

After a modeling gig, Valentine accidentally runs over a pregnant Malinois dog named Rita while driving home. Concerned, she seeks out the dog’s owner, Joseph Kern, only to find him indifferent to the accident. Determined, Valentine takes the injured dog to a veterinarian and ultimately decides to adopt her. At the studio, she also chooses her favorite photo while rejecting unwanted advances from the ad agency’s photographer. Unexpectedly, a sum of money arrives at Valentine’s apartment from an unknown source.

The following day, as Valentine walks Rita, the dog leads her back to Kern’s residence. He admits to sending money to cover veterinary expenses and encourages Valentine to keep the dog. However, when Kern hands her extra cash, she resolves to return it. While waiting for him, Valentine enters his home and unexpectedly finds him eavesdropping on a male neighbor fluent in secret conversations with his lover. She confronts Kern, urging him to respect the neighbor’s privacy, which spirals into a conflict where Kern dares her to inform the neighbor of his spying. Determined, Valentine approaches the neighbor, only to discover his daughter listening in as well. Kern, a retired judge, reflects on his past cases, imbuing the atmosphere with a sense of ethical ambiguity.

As their relationship develops, Kern introduces Valentine to Auguste, another law student who inadvertently encounters a significant piece of the Criminal Code that aids in his own judicial career. That evening, Kern pens confessional letters about his eavesdropping activities, which lead to a class-action lawsuit. At a subsequent court appearance, he sees Karin, who is flirtatious and strikes a conversation about his confessions. As they delve into discussions of morality and past mistakes, Kern reveals a haunting memory of a case where he wrongly acquitted a sailor, while Valentine silently contemplates the void left by her mother’s absence.

Auguste experiences turmoil in his relationship with Karin, discovering her infidelity, which boils over into frustration with his dog during an emotional breakdown. Meanwhile, Kern reaches out to Karin’s “Personal Weather Service” for a forecast regarding the forthcoming sailing adventure to the English Channel. Karin optimistically predicts clear skies for her journey with a new boyfriend, while Valentine, before her own trip to England, extends an invitation to Kern for her upcoming fashion show.

During an insightful coffee outing at the theater, Kern senses an impending storm that could spell danger for Valentine. Their disclosure of past relationships reveals Kern’s tragic love story, where the girl he adored perished after a fateful crossing of the Channel. With eerie synchronicity, Auguste’s first case as a judge involves Kern’s own trial, weaving a complicated web of fate.

As Valentine steps aboard the ferry to England, Auguste also boards, reuniting with his dog amidst a fleeting moment of close interaction. Kern remains behind, caring for the puppies while news emerges of a catastrophic storm impacting the English Channel, leading to the tragic sinking of both the ferry and Karin’s yacht. A gripping television report reveals that amidst devastation, there are only seven survivors: a barman, Julie and Olivier, Karol and Dominique, Auguste (now separated from his dog), and Valentine. The revelation leaves Kern in an emotional mix of concern and relief, marking a tumultuous climax to this intricate narrative.